Melbourne Victory FC–Western United FC rivalry

Melbourne Victory FC–Western United FC rivalry
Other namesWestgate Derby
Battle of the Bridge
LocationMelbourne
TeamsMelbourne Victory
Western United
First meeting2 November 2019
A-League
Melbourne Victory 2–3 Western United
Latest meeting10 January 2025
A-League Men
Melbourne Victory 3–4 Western United
StadiumsAAMI Park (Melbourne Victory and Western United)
Statistics
Meetings total18
Most winsWestern United (9)
Top scorerBesart Berisha
Jake Brimmer
Aleksandar Prijović
(4 goals each)
All-time seriesMelbourne Victory: 6
Drawn: 3
Western United: 9
Largest victoryWestern United 1–6 Melbourne Victory
2020–21 A-League
(28 May 2021)
Melbourne
Victory
Western
United

The Melbourne Victory FC–Western United FC rivalry, also known as the Battle of the Bridge and the Westgate Derby, is a rivalry between Victorian clubs Melbourne Victory and Western United.

Despite the rivalry's short existence, it has garnered a reputation for producing talking points, controversy, tension, goals and drama. In the team's first meeting, in November 2019 at Marvel Stadium, Western United won 3–2 despite going 2–0 down within the first 7 minutes. In February 2021 at Marvel Stadium, despite conceding the first goal of the match and despite being reduced to 10 men for the final half-hour of the match, Western United won 4–3, with Victor Sanchez scoring in the final minute of stoppage time.

Overall, Western United has won the most games in the rivalry's history, having won eight times with three draws while Melbourne Victory having won six times. Western United's record win was a 4–1 victory in an A-League Men Finals match at AAMI Park on 21 May 2022, with the Victory's record win being a 6–1 victory in an A-League match at AAMI Park on 28 May 2021. Besart Berisha, Jake Brimmer, and Aleksandar Prijović hold the mark for the most derby goals with four in all competitions.